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Kirkham Motorsports

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Old 03-24-2012, 09:50 PM
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Default My Velocity blog on how a ride in a cobra changed my life

I've been chasing cars for well over 35 years now. But you alway remember your first. In my case it was a 66 427 Cobra. I talk about that story in my latest blog for the Velocity Channel. I thought you guys might get a kick out of it.

Amelia Island Concours, the Shelbys - Velocity

It sorta funny, I don't think I would be in this position if it hadn't been for that initial contact with a Cobra. I just knew I had to find that car. It took 2 years of sleuthing and pedaling to discovery the location.

From that point on, I was enthralled with cars of all sorts of genres. But the Cobra was always my dream car. Now I live vicariously thru my friend's superfomance side oiler.

Below is the intro to my piece.

Shelby, a name that invokes an image, a brand, a legend. Throw Cobra in the mix and you have fear and speed all mixed into one muscular four wheeled beast.

My infatuation with the Shelby Cobra dates back the mid 70’s, when I caught my first glimpse of a blue 427 Cobra rumbling down Reading Blvd. It took me nearly 2 years of furious pedaling to finally figure out where the Shelby lived. As a gangly 14 year old, I went up the door and introduced myself. I showed the owner my Shelby binder of magazine articles and ads. Then asked if I could have a photoshoot of his Cobra. Rick said yes under one condition, that I not tell anyone about where the car lived. Even better, he gave me a ride. I can remember every second of that short blast. “I’m going to accelerate now, don’t let you head snap back and hit the back of the cockpit.” Seriously...

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I found the slides some years ago. Sometimes it pays to be a pack rat. They were a little worse for the wear but I still scanned them.


I'd like to other's stories of how they found or were introduced to Shelbys. Who was your Rick? Who took the time to show you the ropes?

regards

ken visser

my other 3 blogs

Amelia at Sunrise: Automotive Sensory Overload - Velocity

Saturday at Amelia, Finding the Cars ... - Velocity

On the Road to Amelia Island - Velocity
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Last edited by kvisser; 03-24-2012 at 10:10 PM..
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Old 03-24-2012, 10:15 PM
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Did anyone proofread it?

1962 Shelby Dragsnake (CSX20930

Rick says "gonna accerate now
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Old 03-24-2012, 10:17 PM
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Interesting how people first come across Cobras.

For me it was a red 427 that showed up around town in Ukiah, Ca one summer. Everyone that saw it was awestruck, and the impression didn't abate as we all learned it was a "kit car". It was awesome. Beautiful. Menacing.
The next one I spotted in the parking lot of the grocery store I worked at, while saving for college. I walked out to get lunch and there it was, a dark green slabside with wire wheels. Interestingly, years later, while working as a engineer I was looking for consultants the company I was working for (Tektronix) could refer our customers to, and I stumbled across one in Ukiah. I called him up to chat, and as it turned out he would be I San Jose the next week.
When he came by my office he was greeted by a poster of a black Porsche Speedster on my office wall. He asked me if I had one and I said "No, but do you?". He coyly replied "No, but I have a pretty cool sports car.". I threw out a few guesses: Big Healey; XKE; or 'Vette? No, no and no. I studied him a bit and then asked "Cobra " and his grin gave it away. Subsequent discussions revealed that he owned the green slabside I had seen so many years prior.

Very cool memories, both Cobras. Now I'm the guy that gets to grin.
DD
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Old 03-24-2012, 10:22 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by computerworks View Post
Did anyone proofread it?

1962 Shelby Dragsnake (CSX20930

Rick says "gonna accerate now
Thanks for the catch, fixed it.

Second part is just vernacular, paraphrasing the initial statement.
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Old 03-24-2012, 10:27 PM
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"accerate"?

What planet's vernacular? :-)
Sinovac likes this.
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Old 03-25-2012, 05:48 AM
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Default 14 Too!

I had just transfered to a new Jr/Hs school & met Steve. Who would become one of my best friends. He was 2 yrs older & had his licence already. Sometimes people just mesh! Anyway, Steve's dad was a Dr. & Stevie had gotten him hooked into car's. I mean all types of rides! Jags, Healey's, 300SEL Gullwings & Shelby's, GT's & AC's. In all Doc had 28 rides when I met Stevie. He (Doc) was in comp. with a neighbor who collected (jones syndrome) covette's. Stevie would scour the add's of Hemmings & the like & find the cars & then he & Doc would go check them out & buy them if Doc liked'em. Of the group Stevie/Doc had 7 GT's & 4 AC's. Of the AC's Stevie had a 63/260(#53), a 64/289, a 66/HM427 & a 68/428. I will speak of the 66/HM427 from here out. When Stevie/Doc bought the HM, they bought it in1970 from a guy who right after getting the car (new) from Shelby, sent the car to Holmon & Moody Racing to have the engine rebuilt! He told Doc he wanted the best! It turns out, this was the only way one could get a HM in a AC. As HM didn't have much to do with Shelby other than send them the engines for there cars. As HM was; at the time, the main warehouse for all of Ford's high performance engines. OK, OK long story short! That AC was the baddest of all the cars in Doc's collection. Doc was a great guy! & let Stevie & some of older guys in our group take the cars (with him) out on the town @ night looking for chevy's & mopar's to romp with. What a sight! A pack GT's & AC's crusing the streets 4 to 8 @ a time!! Well my 1st ride in that Cobra left me scared for life! Stevie told me just before he dumped the clutch. Remember "Sex is only temporary, For everlasting pleasure! Drive a Cobra!!" I was 14!! The only thing I thought about was SEX!! Till that moment! As we hit 2nd @ 90 mph & 7+ grand; in my screaming, I knew Stevie was right! I was hooked! That was 40+ yrs ago! It's an addiction I have never gotten over

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Old 03-25-2012, 06:45 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by computerworks View Post
"accerate"?

What planet's vernacular? :-)
You got me there! The planet where I learn how to spell. The spellcheck feature on blogging software is rather poor. Evidently my English skills need improving.

thanks for the catch again.

regards

ken
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Old 03-25-2012, 06:47 AM
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Default any pictures?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Silversmith View Post
I had just transfered to a new Jr/Hs school & met Steve. Who would become one of my best friends. He was a 2 yrs older & had his licence already. Sometimes people just mesh! Anyway, Steve's dad was a Dr. & Stevie had gotten him hooked into car's. I mean all types of rides! Jags, Healey's, 300SEL Gullwings & Shelby's, GT's & AC's. In all Doc had 28 rides when I met Stevie. He (Doc) was in comp. with a neighbor who collected (jones syndrome) covette's. Stevie would scour the add's of Hemmings & the like & find the cars & then he & Doc would go check them out & buy them if Doc liked'em. Of the group Stevie/Doc had 7 GT's & 4 AC's. Of the AC's Stevie had a 63/260(#53), a 64/289, a 66/HM427 & a 68/428. I will speak of the 66/HM427 from here out. When Stevie/Doc bought the HM, they bought it in1970 from a guy who right after getting the car (new) from Shelby, sent the car to Holmon & Moody Racing to have the engine rebuilt! He told Doc he wanted the best! It turns out, this was the only way one could get a HM in a AC. As HM didn't have much to do with Shelby other than send them the engines for there cars. As HM was; at the time, the main warehouse for all of Ford's high performance engines. OK, OK long story short! That AC was the baddest of all the cars in Doc's collection. Doc was a great guy! & let Stevie & some of older guys in our group take the cars (with him) out on the town @ night looking for chevy's & mopar's to romp with. What a sight! A pack GT's & AC's crusing the streets 4 to 8 @ a time!! Well my 1st ride in that Cobra left me scared for life! Stevie told me just before he dumped the clutch. Remember "Sex is only temporary, For everlasting pleasure! Drive a Cobra!!" I was 14!! The only thing I thought about was SEX!! Till that moment! As we hit 2nd @ 90 mph & 7+ grand; in my screaming, I knew Stevie was right! I was hooked! That was 40+ yrs ago! It's an addiction I have never gotten over
Great story, fun doctor. Any pictures from back in the day?

regards

ken
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Old 03-29-2012, 04:51 PM
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Alas no; lost in a house/apt. fire in 1989

P.S. Don't let drunk women try to cook frozen fried shrimp @ 4am! Bad things will happen!!

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Old 03-30-2012, 05:26 AM
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Love the picture of that Light blue 427. I think I'd replicate a car like that if I did another.
I had a big flat black 59 cad with a BB Chevy under the hood. I pulled into a gas station to fill up & there sat a 427 Cobra. I'm almost sure it was a replica, now that my learning curve is mostly behind me. But, it was a very well built car & the sound from that thing, just idling, had me planning my way into a Cobra. The Cadillac, as big & bold as it was, just didn't have an appeal that measured up. It had to find a new owner.
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Old 03-30-2012, 09:52 AM
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Got one more correction:

The 1962 Shelby Dragsnake (CSX2093) is the most successful competion Cobra in drag history.

forgot a ti

Great blog btw.

Dan
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Old 03-30-2012, 12:28 PM
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Quote:
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Got one more correction:

The 1962 Shelby Dragsnake (CSX2093) is the most successful competion Cobra in drag history.

forgot a ti

Great blog btw.

Dan
Fixed, I really appreciate the eye to detail. Funny, I find myself using a pen less and less that I need to almost think about what I'm writing.

And yes, thanks for the nod on the blog. I've put some time into crafting a story and am rather grateful for the opportunity. When I first post my blog, it jumps to the top of the blog page. That puts me one click from the main Velocity page.

And here is a challenge issued, How many other folk have a picture of the first Cobra they ever saw? It would be cool to hear some other first Cobra sighting stories from the group.

regards

ken
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Old 03-30-2012, 12:43 PM
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Quote:
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It would be cool to hear some other first Cobra sighting stories from the group.
Be sure to credit this Forum if you use any content in that blog

thanks
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Old 03-30-2012, 01:18 PM
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Be sure to credit this Forum if you use any content in that blog

thanks
Without a doubt and with permission as well. However, not the intention of my thread. I know there are some great stories out there. I once met a guy who as a young kid watched Shelby and his truck with the team Cobras come into the pits of some mid west race track. They ran into a sagging electrical line, this fella ran up with a rake, got onto the truck and pushed the line up high enough so the they could pass. 40 years later same fella gets to meet Caroll Shelby, he mentions the name of the track and then Caroll relates a story back about some kid that pushed up the sagging line, then Caroll put 2 and 2 together and said "You weren't that crazy kid were you?"

Turns out he was.
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Old 03-30-2012, 01:27 PM
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I have pictures of the first real cobra I've ever seen, it was a couple months ago, I was driving to a race (triathlon), when I passed by an old store front that had one behind the glass, just sitting there for all passers by to enjoy. I first real interaction with a replica was when my neighbor bought one 2.5 years ago, it was dark blue with white stripes and a built 408w with about 430 to the rear wheels. He invited me to go for a ride while I was working on my truck, I couldn't turn him down but felt bad because I was filthy. He didn't mind so I jumped in and away we went. At the first stop sign a teen was yelling at us to fire them up, once we cleared the intersection he let it rip, it blew me away. Two months later I bought one for myself, and have never looked back.
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Old 03-30-2012, 03:40 PM
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Will never forget seeing my first Cobra back in the 60's,had to drive 60 miles just to look at it sitting in a shop the owner was an A-Hole.He relunctly let me look at the car and loudly barked don't lay a finger on it.His reason was aluminum was so thin even touching it would leave a mark.Still never wavered my desire to see more of them.Next one was a 427 Cobra with side exhaust,this guy was different but offered to give me a ride and was vocal about the side pipes.That was the ride that did it as soon as we were able bought our kit in 93 after 2 yrs of long hours finally had my own big block Cobra.
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Old 04-01-2012, 09:23 PM
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It was 1973. I was 15, working in a gift store stocking merchandise. The owners son, Bruce Meyer, himself a young man at the time, pulls up in an original 427 S/C. The SOUND, that amazing sound, so menacing, brutal. Out of this world. And the car ? Holy crap!!! It took me another 38 years to get my hands on one. Oh, the waiting ? Worth it.
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Old 04-02-2012, 09:04 AM
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It's 1965 in Sun Valley, Idaho and two high school seniors are watching a 289 Cobra beating the sox of of Jags, Corvettes and everything else at a sports car event. It's all we can talk about for the whole weekend. My friends mom says "so you think the Cobra was cool" and we respond with it was the coolest car we had ever seen. About an hour later a 427 Cobra rumbles up the driveway of their summer cabin. It seems that his mom just happened to know a guy that had just got a new Cobra and he was here to give a couple of very excited high schoolers rides. A weekend that I will never forget. The seed had been planted and it only took me 40 years to get my Cobra replica.
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Old 04-02-2012, 10:27 AM
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In 1967 my Dad owned an auto parts store. At the end of the block was an A&W drive-in. Back in those days those drive-ins were where all the cruisers would hang on Friday and Saturday nights.

We always went there on Fridays as Dad had a chopped/channeled 54 Ford with hopped up flathead V-8. Tha car was pretty awesome, in if itself.

One night in 67 a Cobra pulls up beside us and I was hooked. Been dreaming of owning one since that night. Finally picked up my kit last week. It will be a while before I can drive it, but it is happening and I cannot stop smiling about it.
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Old 04-02-2012, 06:36 PM
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I first read about cobras in a Hot rod magazine and was totally hooked, reading the cobra story back and forth almost every day, I was still a teenager, buying one was not an option back then, so I started looking in bookstores newsstands for cobra articles and just devoured them. Took a good 20 years to finally afford one.
btw: the first encounter with a muscle car that blew me away was a Dodge Challenger. I saw it pulled over to the side of the road with the driver working on it under the hood. I was on my bicycle and the shape of that car just totally lit something in me, I must have just stood there like a statue for a long time just staring at that incredible automobile. Then a neighbor with a 340 Duster gave me a ride in his car and that was it, I was hooked on screaming V8's.
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